diff --git a/docs/rfcs/2025-10-20-chat-relays.md b/docs/rfcs/2025-10-20-chat-relays.md
index 0d53065017..5145397b27 100644
--- a/docs/rfcs/2025-10-20-chat-relays.md
+++ b/docs/rfcs/2025-10-20-chat-relays.md
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ par With each relay
     R ->> O: 10. Accept request<br>(x.grp.relay.acpt<br>incl. relay link)
     note over O, R: Priority connection<br>with relay is ready
     O ->> OSMP: 11. Update short link<br>(add relay link)
-    O ->> R: 12. Connect via relay link
+    O ->> R: 12. Connect via relay link<br>(share same owner key)
     note over O, R: Owner: Messages connection with relay is ready,<br>relay link is tested<br>Relay: Relay link is active
 end
 create participant M as Member
@@ -224,7 +224,11 @@ O -->> M: 13. Share group short link<br>(social, out-of-band)
 note over O, M: New member connects
 
 M ->> OSMP: 14. Retrieve short link data
-M ->> R: 15. Connect via relay link(s)
+par Priority connection
+    M ->> R: 15a. Connect via relay link
+and Messages connection
+    M ->> R: 15b. Connect via relay link<br>(share same member key/<br>identifier to correlate)
+end
 
 note over O, M: Message forwarding
 
@@ -233,6 +237,11 @@ R ->> M: 17. Forward message
 M ->> M: 18. Deduplicate message
 ```
 
+Notes:
+
+- Invitation sent in step 12 should contain same key as in group link, for relay to match connection to the same owner and "active" relay link (add to `XContact` message).
+
+- Add new connection entity, special for groups with relay, referencing member record - parallel to first member connection.
 
 ## Protocol for removing chat relay from group, restoring connection to group
 
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/SQLite/Migrations/M20251016_chat_relays.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/SQLite/Migrations/M20251016_chat_relays.hs
index 2cc8ce5e88..65fb62ad03 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/SQLite/Migrations/M20251016_chat_relays.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/SQLite/Migrations/M20251016_chat_relays.hs
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ ALTER TABLE group_members ADD COLUMN group_relay_id INTEGER REFERENCES group_rel
 CREATE INDEX idx_group_members_group_relay_id ON group_members(group_relay_id);
 
 ALTER TABLE groups ADD COLUMN relay_own_status TEXT;
+
+ALTER TABLE connections ADD COLUMN group_member_id_low_priority INTEGER REFERENCES group_members ON DELETE CASCADE;
+CREATE INDEX idx_connections_group_member_id_low_priority ON connections(group_member_id_low_priority);
 |]
 
 down_m20251016_chat_relays :: Query
@@ -70,4 +73,7 @@ DROP INDEX idx_group_members_group_relay_id;
 ALTER TABLE group_members DROP COLUMN group_relay_id;
 
 ALTER TABLE groups DROP COLUMN relay_own_status;
+
+DROP INDEX idx_connections_group_member_id_low_priority;
+ALTER TABLE connections DROP COLUMN group_member_id_low_priority;
 |]
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Types.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Types.hs
index 06e2dcb13c..9131a28443 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Types.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Types.hs
@@ -974,24 +974,35 @@ data GroupRelay = GroupRelay
   }
   deriving (Eq, Show)
 
--- Status tracked by owner per relay
+-- -- Status tracked by owner per relay
+-- data GroupRelayStatus
+--   = GRSNew
+--   | GRSInvited
+--   | GRSAccepted
+--   | GRSAdded
+--   | GRSNotified
+--   | GRSConfirmed
+--   deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+-- -- Own status tracked by relay in a group
+-- data GroupRelayOwnStatus
+--   = GROSInvited
+--   | GROSLinkCreated
+--   | GROSAccepted
+--   | GROSNotified
+--   | GROSConfirmed
+
+-- TODO [chat relays] single type for statuses both on owner and relay side?
 data GroupRelayStatus
-  = GRSNew
+  = GRSNew -- only for owner
   | GRSInvited
+  | GRSVerified -- only for relay
+  | GRSLinkCreated -- only for relay
   | GRSAccepted
-  | GRSAdded
-  | GRSNotified
+  | GRSAdded -- only for owner
   | GRSConfirmed
   deriving (Eq, Show)
 
--- Own status tracked by relay in a group
-data GroupRelayOwnStatus
-  = GROSInvited
-  | GROSLinkCreated
-  | GROSAccepted
-  | GROSNotified
-  | GROSConfirmed
-
 data GroupSupportChat = GroupSupportChat
   { chatTs :: UTCTime,
     unread :: Int64,